Manzar Noori Nastaliq - منظر نوری نستعلیق

Manzar Noori Nastaliq: Honoring a Legacy, Perfecting a Tradition

Noori Nastaliq © is a cornerstone of Urdu typography, renowned for its elegance and historical significance. First created as a digital font in 1981 through a collaboration between Ahmed Mirza Jamil and Monotype Imaging ©, it marked a pivotal moment for digital Urdu publishing. Recognized by the Government of Pakistan in 1982 as an "Invention of National Importance," Noori Nastaliq © has since become synonymous with Urdu newspapers like Daily Jang and the broader publishing industry.

The Journey of Noori Nastaliq © In 1995, Concept Software Pvt Ltd, India partnered with Monotype Imaging © to bring Noori Nastaliq  © to the masses by bundling it with their page layout software, InPage ©. However, the original Noori Nastaliq © font was purely ligature-based, meaning it lacked individual character support. Words that didn't have pre-defined ligatures defaulted to Naskh script, limiting typographic flexibility.

By 2000, Concept Software addressed this by commissioning Firoz Hashmi, a skilled calligrapher, to design individual characters for Noori Nastaliq ©. While functional, these characters were basic and met only the immediate needs of the time. The font remained without Kashish (Kasheeda) — the artful elongation of letters to create visual harmony — making it less adaptable for intricate designs.

A New Era: Manzar Noori Nastaliq In 2005, Axis SoftMedia began developing Faiz Nastaliq ©, introducing Kashish to the digital Nastaliq landscape for the first time. Recognizing the growing need for Kashish in Noori Nastaliq © to maintain compatibility across fonts, Concept Software began adding Kashish to Noori as well, releasing the updated version alongside InPage 3 ©.

By 2012, after Faiz Nastaliq parted ways with InPage 3 ©, Noori Nastaliq also faded from prominence. However, Axis SoftMedia believed that Noori Nastaliq's legacy deserved preservation and modernization. In 2019, the team made the bold decision to revive and refine Noori Nastaliq © as part of the Manzar Typesetting Tool.

Revitalizing a Classic Under the expert guidance of Dahelvi Nastaliq Experts developed by Syed Manzar Zaidi, Axis SoftMedia undertook the monumental task of redesigning Noori Nastaliq :

• Conversion to Unicode: Transitioned the font from ASCII to Unicode, enhancing its accessibility across modern platforms.

• Character Redesign: Reimagined each character to improve clarity, balance, and visual flow.

• Refined Kashish: Enhanced the Kashish options, offering more control over letter elongation and visual harmony.

• Preserving a Legacy: To honor Ahmed Mirza Jamil and his contributions to digital Urdu typography, the font was rebranded as "Manzar Noori Nastaliq," ensuring that Mirza Jamil’s name remains intertwined with Urdu digital history.

Why Manzar Noori Nastaliq Stands Out:

• Rich Legacy: Built upon the foundation laid by Mirza Jamil, preserving the authenticity of the original Noori Nastaliq.

• Modern Adaptation: Enhanced character set and Kashish options make it ideal for contemporary digital publishing.

• Perfect for Publishing: Trusted by professional publishers for its refined elegance and historical significance.

Manzar Noori Nastaliq is more than just a font — it’s a bridge between the past and future of Urdu digital typography. It stands as a tribute to Mirza Jamil’s pioneering work, ensuring his legacy endures for generations to come.

Embrace the beauty of tradition, perfected for the digital age with Manzar Noori Nastaliq.

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